Update from Russia

(Former South Middle School eighth grade reading teacher Sheri Medlock is in her first year of teaching in Russia. She is providing weekly updates to Room 210 News.)


Greetings friends!

Big events of this week:

* Saturday John and I made some decisions about the English Club. The first decision we made was that it won't be an English Club. We decided it will be a home group conducted in English. If anyone wants to practice their English, they can come and converse for a few hours. But the purposes will be to create an opportunity for fellowship with believers and an opportunity for non-believers to ask questions about God and the church. We will read through Blue Like Jazz. Several copies of this book has already been sent to me.
* Saturday I also had an opportunity to see more of Moscow. I went to several bookstores and even bought a few books in English! If you know me at all, you know what a job this was to me.
* I continue my English lessons with Masha. This is a very slow process, especially since I spend more of my time preparing English lessons then studying Russian. However, I am slowly beginning to learn the basics of the language. I'm still working up the courage to try communicating, though.

Victories this week:

* I'm feeling much better then the last time I wrote an update. This is thanks to the prayer of the saints and the fact that I finally bought some ibuprofen.


Struggles this week:

* Last week I had a severe headache which lasted most of the week. Around the fourth or fifth day this started to effect me emotionally. I spent quite a bit of time praying through this, and God, as always, was good. In some ways this was a blessing. I spent more time in intense prayer then I had since I got here.
* My job has taken some getting use to. I have obviously taught for three years. But teaching English as a foreign language is quite different. There is also the added complication of working with those from a different culture. A teacher observed one of my classes last week. In Joplin, post-observation discussions usually began with a list of good things I had done. This isn't how she started here. However, before I could get too offended, I realized that there were some cultural differences. It was also a good lesson in humility. I believe my lessons have improved since my observation, so it was effective.

Family:

* My nephew Josef turns 10 Saturday. Happy Birthday, Jo!

Daily Walk:

* I'm still memorizing 1 Peter. I'm working on Chapter 2 now.

Ahead this week:

* Saturday I will attend Rex and Sue's home group discussion of The Purpose-Driven Life.
* I will continue to pray and plan for the home group. John and I hope to start it in the next few weeks.

Prayer Request:

* Please pray that I'll get the books soon! We need them to start the home group. The longer we wait, the more I worry that they have been lost to the US postal service.
* Pray that I will be an effective teacher and a loving example to my students.
* Pray that I will continue to develop relationships with those God has placed around me.

Blessings.
Sheri

eMints brings technology to South classrooms

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Staff Writer
Can you imagine that 15 years ago we could not even grasp the concept of the Internet? Now we have smart boards and laptops in classrooms! These classrooms are called eMINTS classrooms.
eMints classrooms use technology to enhance the way teachers teach and students learn to search for answers. eMINTS stands for enhancing Missouri's Instructional (teaching) Network. eMINTS classrooms are helpful in providing teachers with more tools.
Teachers who have eMINTS classes have to go through training for two years, 100 hours each. After the first year, they get their equipment over Christmas break. Every year an eMINTS coach comes in 10 times a year and answers questions the teacher has or makes suggestions to help the teacher. In our school Mr. Jason Weaver and Mrs. Angela Mense have eMINTS classrooms. Mr. Rocky Biggers will have an eMINTS class after Christmas break. Throughout the Joplin R-8 School District, district there are 24 eMINTS classes. For more information on eMINTS, go to www.emints.org .

Football team to play Memorial today

BY SARAH PHILLIPS
Room 210 Staff Writer
The Joplin North-South eighth grade football team will play Memorial 5:30 p.m. today at Junge Stadium.
Those playing on the team are:

Gill Randolph, Hunter Berlien, Bryan Ross, Daulton Mitchell, Martez Wilson, Ameil-Ray Overman, Nathan Stripling, Andrew Ideker, Zachary Dorris, James Evans, Derek Dillon, Desean Triplett, Evan Wilson, Michael Jenness, Hunter Lynn, Thomas Wickman, Adam Schilling, Logan Perry, Clayton Jenkins, Kyle Vene, Josh Valipulu, Cecil Cornish, Cody Bergstede, Marcus Clark, Ian McPherson, Travis Morris, Tolby Clemons, Paden Lacy, Malakai Mounce, James Olson, Geoffrey Aiken, Malaki Harper, Cameron Rector

Twenty-eight playing volleyball for SMS

By BRITTANY FRISBIE
Room 210 Staff Writer
Twenty-eight seventh and eighth grade girls are representing South Middle School on this year's volleyball team. Those players are:

Seventh Grade- Elaina Wareen, Hannah Hare, Danielle Doerr, Laila Douglas, Allison White, Brittany Hudson, Bethani Patterson, Olivia Hampton, Krystal Schulze, Tera Hall, Kelsey Gould, Shanice Hazley, Jodi Anderson, Rachel Redwine

Eighth Grade- Bayley Strella, Holly O'Dell, Anyh Nguyen, Molly Baker, Nicole Yeoman, Casee Wheeler, Brittany Frisbie, Jordan Chambers, Chloe Potts, Mackenzy Pierce, Tori Mitchell, Jamie Walters, Kirsti Banning, Amber Chacon, Allie Lacey

JHS sophomore receives USAA scholarship

Mary White, a sophomore at Joplin High School, received a United States Achievement Academy scholarship, according to an announcement issued recently by the USAA Scholarship Foundation.
Miss White became eligible for the scholarship when her eighth grade communication arts teacher Mr. Randy Turner nominated her for inclusion in the USAA's annual book listing top eighth grade English students.

Moving to the "Big Kid" School

By BECKY COOPER
(Note: Becky Cooper, a freshman at Joplin High School, is a former SMS student.)
Ever since I started school, I had always considered high school as the "big kid" school.
In elementary, I thought of the students as princes and princesses, but by the time middle school came along, they were just cool people with cars.
Well, here I am, attending JHS and I can barely classify myself as a "big kid." Things seem the same. The work isn't that different, and you still switch classes. I suppose I shouldn't have expected that much of a difference. Guys are still immature, and girls are still full of themselves. High school does have some advantages though; the french fries are absolutely amazing.
Several teachers have told me that being in high school is the best time of my life. I'm just going to have to take that chance.

Eighth graders studying "The Diary of Anne Frank"

By RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Staff Writer
Can you imagine being 13 years old and being forced to go into hiding to stay alive? Anne Frank and her family had to. Just because they were Jews they were persecuted for their beliefs. Thousands of Jews were killed during the Holocaust. It's just sickening and sad.
In our library, we have some books about Anne Frank and the Holocaust such as: "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Anne Frank: The Life of a Young Girl", and "The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank". Those are just a few.
Altogether we have 12 books about Anne Frank available in our library. Plus, if you go to www.room210.com and you go to the links page you will find some links for information about Anne Frank.
In Ms. Andrea Taylor's reading class, eighth graders are reading the play of "The Diary of Anne Frank". While reading the play they are asked,"How can you relate to Anne Frank?"
Breanne Diles said, "Anne is energetic, I'm energetic so I can relate"
Taylor Johnson said, "I can relate to Anne Frank because she's 13 years, and I'm around that age."
"What really interested me about her," Breanne Diles said, "is how she managed to stay in a small place for so long and not go crazy."
Taylor Johnson said, "She was about my age and she went went through all that... I can't even imagine going through all she went through."
Anne Frank's story is sad, but true. Anyone can relate to her some way or another. If Anne Frank hadn't kept a diary teenagers probably wouldn't care much about the history of the Holocaust because we wouldn't have anything to relate to.
"Anne's story is so sad," Taylor John said, "but now that I can relate I crave to know more about this event in history."

State math, reading scores up

(This story was taken from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.)

Missouri fourth- and eighth-graders posted significant gains this year on the mathematics section of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests, state education officials said today.

Missouri scores on the reading section of the NAEP exams did not change from 2005 and remained virtually the same as the national averages, according to the latest statistics.

The NAEP is known as "the nation’s report card." The 2007 exams were given early this year to about 350,000 students nationwide. In Missouri, the sample groups included about 3,000 students in each subject and grade level. Under the federal No Child Left Behind law, all states are now required to take part in NAEP testing in odd-numbered years.

"Missouri students made strong progress in math in both fourth and eighth grade, and Missouri is one of only six states in which students scored higher on all five subsections of the math exam," said Commissioner of Education D. Kent King.

"I am disappointed that we are not seeing any movement in the NAEP reading scores, but I am delighted with the amount of progress our students demonstrated this year in mathematics," King said.



Highlights of Missouri 2007 NAEP results:
# In grade 4 mathematics, Missouri students posted an average scale score of 239, which is above the 2005 score of 235, and equal to the national average score.

The percentage of fourth-graders at the "proficient" level or above is significantly higher this year (38%) than in 2005 (31%).

# In grade 8 mathematics, Missouri students posted an average scale score of 281, which is above the 2005 score of 276 and nearly identical to the national average (280).

The percentage of eighth-graders at the "proficient" level or above is significantly higher this year (30%) than in 2005 (26%).

The average scores for female, white, and black students increased significantly.

# In grade 4 reading, Missouri students posted an average scale score of 221, which is unchanged from 2005, and nearly identical to the national average (220).

32% of fourth-graders were "proficient" or above, which is unchanged from 2005 and nearly identical to the national scores (31%).

# In grade 8 reading, Missouri students posted an average scale score of 263, which was not significantly different than 2005 (265) and about the same as the national average (261).

31% of eighth-graders were proficient or above in reading, the same as in 2005 and above this year’s national average (29%).

Miss Medlock offers weekly update from Russia

Greetings friends!
In some ways this has been a very momentous week. In others, it has felt very normal.
Major events this week:

* I started work. Right now I have 6 classes spread out through the week. Each class is two hours. Teaching, as always, is frustrating and fun and exciting and annoying and very, very familiar. It has been nice to be doing something again that I know. However, the students here have something that the students in America didn't. They can all speak a language that I can't. They have enjoyed this, and I'm fairly certain have been using this to their advantage. But as a whole, they are motivated. I have learned teenagers are teenagers everywhere.
* I met with Masha. Masha is a Russian college student at the Christian university. She is going to be tutoring me this year. It was good to begin this study. It was also good to begin to develop a friendship.

Struggles this week

* The first week of school has had many frustrations. I didn't find out my classes until the night before I started teaching. I still don't have my materials yet. One night I was told I was teaching two classes. I had begun walking home when the director called me and told me I had another class. I quickly came back and had to teach a third class until 10. I had only made copies for two classes. I survived all of this, but it has been frustrating.

Victories this week:

* Despite all the frustrations, I have survived my first week of teaching. It is nice to have a schedule and begin a daily routine.
* This week I have ventured more out on my own, exploring the neighborhood that I am living in.

Daily walk

* I am still memorizing 1 Peter.
* I am also reading a book entitled Devotional Classics. Tomorrow several friends from America will call me and we will discuss a chapter. These "meetings" are a wonderful blessing.

Ahead this week:

* Tomorrow Masha is going to show me around the city. We are going to use this as an opportunity for me to practice the language.
* If John is able to make it to the bible study on Sunday, we will discuss starting the English Club

Prayer concerns:

* Pray that I will be able to establish good relationships with my students. Pray that I will be an effective teacher and an effective witness of Christ's love.
* Pray for John and me as we establish this English Club. I'm not sure what God has in store for this.
* Pray for the church. Pray that the believers will be encouraged daily in their faith.
* Pray that I won't allow myself to become discouraged by not knowing the language, health problems, are anything else that comes my way. I know better than to be discouraged, but it is still a fight that I have to face. I think I can say honestly, it is a fight I have winning this week. This morning as I was praying I asked God "Why am I here?" I read a quote in a book by Richard Foster about the church. He referred to not the establishments but to communities of comfort, fellowships of faith and liberation, places where people grew in faith and love. It was clear to me as I read this that this is not only why I am here in Russia, but why you are where you are. We are all "here" to establish such communities.

Grace and peace.
Sheri

Comments have to be moderated

I apologize to readers who saw some disgusting remarks and obscenities placed in the comment section on one of the stories. I had thought I had turned comment moderation on, but obviously I had not.
It is now turned on, and no comments will be allowed on the site until they have been approved by me. Again, I apologize for the comments that were made. I would have hoped that students at South would have better judgment (and I know that most of them do).

Randy Turner

Neugebauer is new eighth grade math teacher

By RAYCEE THOMPSON and
ALEX KANGETHE
Room 210 Staff Writers

Did you know that one of our new teachers at South Middle School was born two months early? He is the same teacher who grew up outside of Denver,Colorado.
Growing up he enjoyed playing football, basketball, and loved to snowboard. He went to college at Ozark Christian College in Joplin and also went to Missouri Southern State College and earned a bachelor's degree. He was a student teacher at Carl Junction last spring. This is his first time being a full time teacher. Can you guess who we are talking about?
The name you are looking for is Mr. Brian Neugebauer. The reason he went into teaching is because he enjoys middle school age students and he loves math. "I was thinking about teaching social studies, but I prefer math."
So far Mr. Neugebauer enjoys teaching at South Middle School. He said he is excited to be here, and he's looking forward to the rest of the school year.

Ms. Medlock: update from Russia

(Note: Ms. Sheri Medlock, former SMS eighth grade reading teacher is now teaching in Russia and is sending weekly updates.)

Greetings!

Big Events of the last week:

* Sunday we had Bible Study and an English lesson at the Wolfes. It was very good to fellowship with my Russian brothers and sisters.
* Tuesday the Wolfes and I went to the main English First office. We had to sign our contracts and fill out paperwork for our visa renewals. My visa expires September 29.

Struggles this week:

* The major struggle was finding an apartment. I looked at several, each with something that made it impossible for me to live there.
* I have had some problems getting use to all the walking here. This is something that will take sometime for my body to get use to it.

Victories this week:

* I found an apartment! I move in today!

Relationships:

* The time I have had living at the Wolfes has been wonderful. I am very thankful for the opportunity to get to know them better.

Daily Walk:

* I am still in 1 Peter.

Ahead this week:

* Today I move in.
* I will be talking to my supervisor at the school about what classes I will be teaching.
* Monday I start work.

Prayer:

* I am meeting with a college student, Masha, who needs a roommate. Though she can't pay much rent, she would be able to give me Russian lessons and act as a translator. There are pros and cons to this arrangement. Pray that we will make a wise decision for both of us.
* Please pray for my new students who I will soon be meeting. Pray that I will be an effective teacher and an accurate portrayal of Christ.
* Pray my health can adjust to the amount of walking I am doing regularly here.

Thank you for all your prayers. I love getting your e-mails.
Sheri

First lockdown drill held at SMS

By SARAH PHILLIPS
Room 210 Staff Writer

South Middle School was safely locked down in one minute and thirty seconds during the school's lockdown drill Aug. 30.
As recently as last year, SMS Principal Mr. Ron Mitchell said, he didn't think it was important
to do the lockdown drill, but his opinions changed thanks to he actions of a seventh grader at Memorial Middle School last October.
"Ever since Thomas White brought a gun to Memorial Middle School, we've seen reason to worry about safety. This is the first lockdown drill we've had in a few years."
Overall, Mr. Mitchell thought things went well.
The lockdown drill was one of four held at the school during the first three weeks. Two fire drills and a tornado drill were also held.
"We are required to have two fire drills, one lockdown drill, and one
tornado drill in the first weeks of school," Mr. Mitchell said. "We know everyone hates fire drills, but we are required to have 10 fire drills a year. Last year we didn't have a tornado drill until the spring, but this year it was required."
All 19 schools in the district are required to have all these drills. Even private schools have to follow city ordinances.
"We practice these drills so that you'll be able to know how to react in situations like these!"

Football season starts Tuesday

By SARAH PHILLIPS
Room 210 Staff Writer

The Joplin North/South football season opens 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with the seventh grade playing host to Webb City. The eighth grade will do the same 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Members of this year's seventh grade team are:
Jared Bader, Evan Bass, Hollis Cady, Conley Bellamy, Brayden Bunch, Ethan Bryan, Chelie Cook, Cody Cooper, Nick Duke, Chad Ellis, Justin Fleming, Garret Gilbert, Jack Hardy, Josh Hudson, Abe Hueller, Ricky Hutchinson, Keith Inscore, Hank Millard, Hunter Mills, Damien Mitchell, Mallakal Mounce, Dominique Michael, Kaleb Owens, Matt Parsons, Johnny Presley, Jacob Pittman, Kermith Rever, Stefan Rick, Thomas Richins, Brandon Ross, Tyler Russell, Gabe Sachetta, Brock Smiley, C. D. Smith, Blake Sneed, Adam St. Peter, Joshua Stewart, Shane Striegel, Andrew Swadley, Robert Sweeton, Sam Taylor, Tucker Wallace, Tristan Weathers, Rex Whisner.
Seventh grade coaches are Mr. Kasey Pliler and Mr. Mike Wallace.
Eighth grade players and coaches will be featured later on Room 210 News.

Remaining games on the schedule are:

Seventh Grade

Tuesday, Sept. 18- Nevada at Joplin
Tuesday, Sept. 25- Joplin at Memorial
Tuesday, Oct. 2- Joplin at Carl Junction
Tuesday, Oct. 9- Joplin at Carthage
Tuesday, Oct. 16- McDonald County at Joplin

Eighth Grade

Thursday, Sept. 20- Nevada at Joplin
Thursday, Sept. 27- Joplin at Memorial
Thursday, Oct. 4- Joplin at Carl Junction
Thursday, Oct. 11- Joplin at Carthage
Thursday, Oct. 18- McDonald County at Joplin

Unsats to be mailed out next Friday

BY RAYCEE THOMPSON
Room 210 Staff Writer

Unsatisfactory notices will be mailed out a week from today, Friday, Sept. 14, at South Middle School.

"If you get an unsatisfactory, you better notice and get your grade
up!" said Ms. Sue Macy, secretary, who is responsible for sending out the notices.. Anyone who has an D or an F will receive one.
These notices are for parents so they can find out what is going on
with their children and help them get their grades up. So remember to get
your grade up before the end of the quarter!

First fundraiser ends Monday

BY SARAH KESSLER
Room 210 Staff Writer
The school year has begun, and with it, so have the fundraisers. Fundraisers provide an opportunity for students to pitch in and help their school raise money. The current fundraiser at South Middle School started Aug. 24 and will end Sept. 10.
Students are encouraged to sell items out of a magazine full of holiday goodies and other items. Students are also rewarded for selling these products. For example, if you sell 15 items, then you get to take a ride in a limo! Some students sell only to their friends and family, while others take the "door to door" approach. If you go door to door when you sell these items, it is a good idea to take a parent with you.
All the money made from this fundraiser is to be spent on things the students at SMS will enjoy. Some of these things include hoodies, t-shirts, snacks for TA winners, and MAP parties at the end of the year. In the past, funds gained from this fundraiser have been spent on new basketball goals and playground balls. This year support South Middle School and participate in the fundraiser!

First weeks of school have gone smoothly

The first weeks of the 2007-2008 school year have gone smoothly, Principal Mr. Ron Mitchell told the South Middle School faculty during meetings before and after school today.

(Room 210 Photo by Sarah Kessler)

Fox Navarre to appear in Stone's Throw production

Former South Middle School student Cheyla "Fox" Navarre has a leading role in the Stone's Throw Dinner Theatre performance of The Fantasticks, scheduled to begin this Thursday in Carthage.
Miss Navarre, is a sophomore at Joplin High School. She has appeared in numerous Stone's Throw productions in the past.

Doors open for the evening performances at 6 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Sundays, the doors open at 12:30 p.m., dinner begins at 1 p.m. and the show starts at 2 p.m.

Admission is $20 for ages 17-54; $19 for those over 55; $17 for those under 16 and free for those ages 5 and under.

For reservations and information, call 358-9665 or 358-7268. Paid reservations are always required.

Former South student featured in Joplin Globe

The beginning of school found one of South Middle School's former leading lights, Lindsey Hamm, on page one of the Joplin Globe.
Miss Hamm, now a senior at Joplin High School, was featured in a back-to-school photo. She attended South Middle School from 2001 to 2004.

Baby shower held for Hendersons

A shower for Kevin and Madelyn Henderson and their baby was held Tuesday after school in the South Middle School Library. Mr. Henderson is a custodian at SMS.

Miss Medlock reports on first week in Russia

Miss Sheri Medlock, eighth grade reading teacher at South Middle School from 2004 through 2007, has taken a job teaching in Russia, and is sending updates on her progress. This one describes her first week:

I've been in Moscow a week now. For the most part, the time has been fairly uneventful. I have looked at one apartment. I met with the head of English First, the school I'll be working for. Rex and Sue have shown me few different stores. But for the most part we have rested, getting over jet lag and coping with the constant heat. That's right, heat. I was promised beautiful weather when I got here. Instead it's been a very humid 90's, and there is no air conditioning anywhere. Who needs air conditioning, right? We're in Russia!
Well, hopefully it will cool over later this week. Also, hopefully I can look at a few more apartments and start to get settled. I'm looking forward to getting to work and seeing what God has in store for me here.
Next week perhaps I'll have something more exciting to report. However, I see now, as I suspected before, that I'll just be living my life, as I lived in Joplin. I'll teach. I'll try to love and serve God puts in my path. I'll speak truth to those I have any influence over. Only, I'll do it in broken Russian.
Blessings,
Sheri

Groom shower held for Mr. B

A groom shower for teacher's aid Jermaine Boykin, better known as Mister B, was held Wednesday morning before school in the SMS Library.
Mr. Boykin is getting married next month.

R-8 Board moves closer to new cell phone policy

A final decision on a new policy that would forbid the use of cell phones in Joplin schools will be made one day before the 2007-2008 school year begins. The board passed the new policy on first reading Tuesday night:

Under the policy, all personal electronic devices would have to be turned off from the beginning of the school day until the end.

Though the policy includes MP3 players, digital voice recorders, digital cameras, portable gaming systems, pagers and other gadgets, board members mainly discussed cell phones.

Assistant Superintendent Steve Doerr said the policy was worded so that officials at each school building could decide what works best.

"We wanted to give building administrators the flexibility to decide what's best for them," Doerr said. "Older students can be given a little bit of freedom."

Doerr said middle schools may prefer to ban operation of the devices while students are in a school building, while the high school would enforce the policy from the first bell to the last.

Final Joplin signing set for Devil's Messenger

What is expected to be the final Joplin signing for South Middle School eighth grade communication arts teacher Randy Turner's second novel, Devil's Messenger, will be held 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at Hastings Books, Music and Video in Joplin.

Mr. Turner's first novel, Small Town News, was published in 2005. He is working on a third book, this one non-fiction, this summer.

R-8 schools plan policy to eliminate electronic devices

The Joplin R-8 Board of Education is discussing a policy that would forbid students from bringing electronic devices such as palm pilots, camera phones, I-Pods, MP3 players, etc. to school, according to an article in today's Joplin Globe:

R-8 district contemplates policy for phones in school

— By Joe Hadsall
jhadsall@joplinglobe.com
Jamie Dorris pays her own cell-phone bill every month.
The 15-year-old sophomore at Joplin High School knows to keep her phone quiet during school. She leaves the ringer on vibrate and never answers during class — according to school rules.
Those rules may get more stringent, however. If the Joplin R-8 Board of Education adopts a new policy in the next few weeks, Dorris would have to turn her cell phone off during the day.
She doesn't think that's fair.
"I think cell phones should be allowed to be turned on," Dorris said. "If there is an emergency, it's an easy way for my parents to get ahold of me."
Cell phones aren't the only target of the school board's proposed new policy. Using gadgets such as iPods and Palm Pilots also would be forbidden.
"This is a common-sense policy," said board member Robert "Bo" Lee. "We need to make sure these devices don’t interrupt school."
The board will discuss the policy during Tuesday's regular meeting. After revisions, the policy would be approved during a second session, potentially on Aug. 14.
Lee said he would like to see the policy approved before the beginning of the school year on Aug. 15.
Policy aimed at parents, too
Assistant Superintendent Steve Doerr said the policy formalizes rules already enforced in school: Cell phones are to be turned off during class. The policy cracking down on cell-phone use is aimed at parents as well as students.
"Some parents call their children's cell phones during the day," Doerr said. "Parents need to understand that it is important not to disrupt their children while at school."
Doerr said the "old-fashioned way" of contacting youngsters — calling the school's main office — works just fine.
Bob Barr said he is just fine with that. He said he can get in contact with his son, Luke, without calling the sophomore's cell phone.
"If we have a family emergency, there are other means I have to contact him," Barr said. "I understand the school's position and support it."
Dorris' mother, Yvonne, said the "old-fashioned way" doesn't always work. She thinks cell phones should be allowed to be on.
"There have been several times I've tried to get hold of my kids, and it's taken one or two hours to hear back from them," Yvonne Dorris said. "Even though something might not be a 911-type emergency, it may still be an emergency."
Other gadgets
Cell phones aren't the only gadgets that would be banned under the policy. MP3 players, radios, pagers, camera phones, personal digital assistants, laptops, portable gaming systems — all personal electronic devices would be barred from operation.
Lee, the board member, said none of these devices existed a few years ago, but children's use of them is now prevalent.
"We are trying to get ahead of the curve," he said. "This is a new phenomenon we are dealing with."
Doerr said the policy is meant to help students focus on their education with as little distraction as possible.
"We've all been next to someone having a loud cell-phone conversation," he said. "This policy will help kids learn what's appropriate."
MP3 players allow owners to store music collections on a small, pocket-sized hard drive. Senior Brandon Pliler has an MP3 player, and he listens to music while he studies.
"I think we should get to use it if we have some down time," Pliler said. "If we’re studying or reading, I don’t see the problem."
Luke Barr also owns an MP3 player, but he said he doesn’t take it to school.
"Some of the teachers let us listen during tests," Luke Barr said. "But I’ve heard about some kids recording answers to a test onto their players and listening to them during the test."
Students have found ways to use the devices to cheat, Doerr said.
"These devices have tremendous amounts of memory," he said. "Students can download entire books onto an MP3 player and go through it to get the information they want."
Doerr also said students are becoming adept at text-messaging while their phones are still in their pockets.
Senior Garrett Shank is skeptical.
"Cheating is a lot harder than it looks," he said. "It’s not realistic to text answers. That’s a lot of texting to do."
Lee said he wants to hear input from parents and students before the policy is given a second reading for approval.
"This is a touchy situation," he said. "It deals with parents' rights to talk to their kids. We want to make rules that we can live with."

Fortner resigns, new positions for Pliler, Moore

A few more changes are on tap for the South Middle School faculty for the 2007-2008 school year.
Mr. Chris Fortner, PE instructor, has resigned to take a teaching position in Seneca, his home town. Mr. Kasey Pliler, who has been teaching the Success program has moved into the P.E. position, with Ms. Debbie Moore, the ISS instructor taking over the Success program.
The ISS position is still open.

Navarre to perform in Stone's Throw Theatre play

Former South Middle School student Cheyla "Fox" Navarre, a sophomore at Joplin High School, will be featured in the upcoming Stone's Throw Theatre production of "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood." She plays the lead female role of Lady Marian.
The play is scheduled to run July 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, and 22.
Information on reservations and directions to the theater can be found at this link.
This link will take you to the Carthage Press story about the production.
(Fox Navarre is shown in a scene from "Bus Stop," an earlier Stone's Throw Theatre production. Joplin Globe photo)

Physicals set for R-8 athletes

(From the Joplin R-8 School District website)

Freeman Sports Medicine will offer free physicals to Joplin student athletes on Monday, July 30 at Freeman Sports Medicine Center (1111 McIntosh Circle Drive). All Joplin students who plan to participate in sports are required to have a physical. The schedule for physicals is as follows:

JHS students in Grades 11 and 12: 6:30 p.m.
JHS students in Grades 9 and 10: 7:00 p.m.
Joplin middle school students in Grade 8: 7:30 p.m.
Joplin middle school students in Grade 7: 8:00 p.m.
Due to the large number of athletes who will receive physicals, students and parents are asked to follow these important guidelines:

Please arrive at your assigned time.

Athletes should wear shorts and a T-shirt. (No mini-skirts please.)

If the student is under 18, they MUST have a parent’s signature on the physical form. Athletes will not be allowed to complete the physical without a parent’s signature on the form. (The parent may need to accompany the athlete to the physical or may need to pick up a form ahead of time from the Joplin High School main office.)

A representative from the school will be responsible to ensure that proper parental consent is obtained before athletes are allowed to participate.
Questions may be directed to Bill King at Freeman Sports Medicine (417-347-3737) or the Joplin High School Athletic Office (417-625-5242).

Globe editorial: Adding police officers a good move

In an editorial in today's edition, the Joplin Globe approved the move by the Joplin City Council Monday night to hire more police officers for the Joplin R-8 School District.

Thanks to that decision, the district will be able to have officers in place at the high school and at all three middle schools:

The Globe editorial said:

Increasing police presence on Joplin R-8's high-school and middle-school campuses was a no-brainer for the Joplin City Council the other night.
An October shooting incident allegedly involving a 13-year-old student at Memorial Middle School was an eye-opener for many parents, teachers and administrators in the district. An act of violence that only a few years ago was unthinkable in a school setting happened here.
The youngster allegedly fired a shot into the ceiling and then pointed the gun at the principal and pulled the trigger, but the weapon didn't discharge.
Police responded promptly to the scene and took the youngster into custody. But, in retrospect, having police officers stationed at the schools not only might head off similarly dangerous incidents, but also would send a strong message that such occurrences will not be tolerated.
The plan to add two Joplin police officers to the two that are already on duty as resource officers in schools makes excellent sense. One officer would be assigned to the high school and one each to the three middle schools. Two of the officers would teach drug-abuse resistance classes, and all of them would be available to respond to elementary schools if necessary.
"We may put one, two or three any place we may need to meet situations that arise," Joplin Superintendent Jim Simpson said. "We're going to be flexible and use these to meet the need of the school district, and be quick to change and adapt to meet the changing situation."
That makes sense. The key is that students and the public understand these are professionally trained law enforcement officers who should pose no threat or intimidation to students and whose job is to ensure the safety of the youngsters, faculty and administrators.
It is sad that security in schools requires the presence of police officers. But it is a fact of life in today's climate, dramatically underscored by the incident at Memorial Middle School last October, that schools are neither insulated against nor impervious to acts of mindless violence.

Enrollment information released

The following information on enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year has been posted on the Joplin R-8 School District website:

The Joplin School District’s 2007-2008 school year will begin on Wednesday, August 15, 2007. Any school age child whose parents or guardians are residents within the Joplin School District boundaries and who meets the legal and Board of Education requirements may enroll. All student enrollment (including kindergarten enrollment) is handled at the school the student will attend. To verify which elementary or middle school the student will attend, please contact Joplin Schools’ Transportation Department at 417-625-5300 or view the district boundary map. Other questions regarding enrollment can be directed to the school offices or to the Joplin School District administration building at 417-625-5200.

Parents/guardians are asked to bring the following items for enrollment:

-Legal Birth Certificate
-Up-to-date Immunization Records as required by the State of Missouri
-Social Security Card
-Proof of Residency [Examples of acceptable documents include: property tax statement, mortgage documents, house closing documents, lease/rental agreement, construction contract with proposed occupancy date, current utility bill (water, gas, electricity), or current charge card statement.]
-Proof of guardianship if the student lives within district boundaries with someone other than a parent.

For students transferring from another district, please bring:
-The name and address of the previous school attended or an unofficial transcript from that school.
-Special Education records, if applicable, such as an Individual Education Plan and a current diagnostic summary

New students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades who are not currently enrolled in Joplin Schools may enroll at their assigned middle school on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 or Wednesday, August 8, 2007 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. All middle school students can pick up their schedules at their school’s open house on the evening of August 13, 2007. Locker assignments will be given out within the first few days of school. There will be no enrollment on Monday, August 13, 2007 due to district-wide meetings.

Joplin R-8 School District to add police officers

Joplin City Council voted tonight to pay for two police officers for the Joplin R-8 School District. This will enable the district to have officers at the high school and all three middle schools.

Joplin City Council considering crackdown on cruising

It appears the Joplin City Council is preparing for yet another crackdown on cruising Main, the most recent of several over the years.
Today's Joplin Globe features young people's reaction to the proposal:

By Mike Dwyer

Loud music, loads of people, fancy cars, and flurries of activity.

It’s cruise night on Joplin's Main Street, and it's easy to see why young people are drawn to it.

But all the elements that draw hoards of teenagers and young adults to Main Street have caused headaches for some in an increasingly residential downtown and prompted the City Council to revisit the issue of cruising.

The council discussed a variety of options for limiting what some have deemed an American pastime at an informal session June 3, but some cruising Main Street on a recent Saturday night said that placing further restrictions will limit recreational options for young people in a town they say doesn't have many.

Stefan Hokill, 17, of Carthage, said that if he weren't out with the crowd on Main Street on a Friday or Saturday night, he would "probably be going to parties and getting into a lot of trouble."

Instead, he said, he's out meeting people from Carl Junction, Webb City, Joplin — forming relationships that wouldn't have been fostered under any other circumstances.

"This is where we make friends," he said. "Carthage, Webb City — the rivalry — normally we hate each other."

Hokill said he usually stays out until about midnight and then goes home. Some downtown residents have expressed concerns that cruising-related activities often extend well into the early morning hours.

Cruising is defined by the city as a vehicle driving two times in the same direction past a control point during a two-hour period. Some say concerns raised are not from the cruising itself but rather the problems that are considered cruising-related — illegal drug activity, excessive noise, loitering and other peace disturbances.

According to city statistics, the Joplin Police Department received more than 900 calls in reference to cruising-related activities in 2005 and nearly 1,600 in 2006.

John Maxwell, 16, of Webb City, and Autumn Dorris, 18, of Carl Junction, said that fighting is a fairly common sight on a cruise night.

"A lot of drama starts on Main," Dorris said.

Maxwell said he probably sees one fight every weekend.

The council reached a consensus that an increased police presence on Main Street would be desirable, but these cruisers said that the Joplin Police Department, which accrues $20,000 a year in cruising-related overtime expense, has an overwhelming presence on Main Street.


"I think you see cops on every corner, pretty much," Dorris said.

Another idea endorsed by the council, though it took no action June 3, was to ban parking on Main Street during cruising hours. Councilman Phil Stinnett was a proponent of the idea, saying that it would eliminate many associated problems.

Cruisers balk at the idea. Cory Burton, 17, of Carthage, said with the price of gas at nearly $3 a gallon, he wondered who could afford a cruise night if parking were prohibited.

"The only place we can park is on the street," he said. "You've got to be able to park. Really, you’re here to congregate with people."

An ordinance prohibiting cruising was between 18th and 28th streets was passed in 1992. An idea discussed by the council was extending that ban to include the downtown area and limit the activity to the eight blocks between 10th and 18th streets where there are no residential units.

"That limits our places to hang out," Hokill said in his opposition to extending the ban.

Maxwell said cruisers driving north on Main Street through downtown typically turn around and head back north at First Street or Second Street.

The Police Department is in the process of gathering more statistics on cruising and related activities to present to the City Council in a few weeks. The council is expected to take some sort of action at that time.

Amber Lasley, 17, or Carl Junction, said she would understand if some limitations were imposed but a win-win situation must be worked so downtown residents and cruisers can coexist.

"Reasonable restrictions would be fine, but you can't ban cruising altogether," she said. "If there's no fighting, no vandalism, then I think it's fine. You’re wanting to meet new people."

Hearing for Memorial Middle School shooter concludes

It will be a few weeks before Jasper County Circuit Court Judge David Mouton makes a ruling on whether Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White, 14, will be returned to juvenile court. Coverage of Friday's hearing was included in today's Joplin Globe:

By Jeff Lehr

A Jasper County judge heard arguments Friday on a motion by attorneys for 14-year-old Thomas White, certified to stand trial as an adult for a Joplin school-shooting incident, to remand the case to juvenile court.

Circuit Judge David Mouton said at the conclusion of the hearing that he is not as yet inclined to send the case back to juvenile court.

"As I've indicated, the court is not convinced by any of the arguments that the statute passed by the Missouri Legislature is unconstitutional," Mouton said of a 1995 change in state law that lowered the minimum age of juveniles for certification to stand trial as adults from 14 to 12.

Mouton said he also does not view it as his job as a trial judge to be ruling on the constitutionality of acts of the Legislature.

But the judge delayed a decision on the motion to remand until he has a chance to read a particular case cited by White’s attorneys at the hearing. Mouton also gave those attorneys time to file any additional arguments they wish to make with respect to the motion.

The judge set July 6 as the deadline for any further written arguments on the motion. He said he would make his ruling on the motion soon after that.

Several people showed up at the hearing in support of the defendant and his parents, Greg and Norma White, of Joplin. The boy's mother has stated publicly that she fears the Jasper County prosecutor’s office is attempting to make an example of her son by prosecuting him as an adult. She maintains that he was the victim of bullying by other students at the school and has said that she does not believe he tried to shoot anyone.

James Egan, one of three public defenders representing the boy, came prepared to call several expert witnesses in an effort to show how a certification hearing held in December was not a proper hearing.

The prosecutor’s office registered objections to revisiting certification issues at the circuit court level. Assistant Prosecutor John Nicholas argued that, lacking any showing of legal defect in the conducting of the hearing in December, the court has no cause to remand the case to juvenile court. He said if the judge were to do that, the defense would wind up calling the same witnesses to testify on the same issues that were considered in December.

"I mean: They want three bites at the apple," Nicholas told the judge.

The judge allowed Egan to call one witness when the hearing first began at 8:30 a.m., prior to the remainder of the morning’s court docket. But when the hearing resumed in the afternoon, the judge said it would be necessary to hear if there were any legal reason to remand the case before any other witnesses were called.

The witness called in the morning was Vince Hillyer, president of the Boys and Girls Town of Missouri. Hillyer told the court that White had been referred to them within the past year for possible admission to Boys Town and had been accepted there. He said he met with the boy in jail for 20 to 30 minutes earlier this year and found him to be "a typical kid," not beyond "reproach" and not a child who didn't have feelings.

Hillyer said Boys and Girls Town of Missouri has had a contract with the Missouri Division of Youth Services for the past three years as a placement option for the state's troubled youth. He said they have 20 to 30 state placements at any given time and can keep a boy or girl ordered there by the courts up to the age of 21.

Hillyer said Boys Town recently dealt with a teen from St. Louis in the exact same situation as the White boy, and he progressed to where he pursued college studies.


"So I just hope to have that same opportunity with Thomas," Hillyer told the court.

The judge asked Hillyer that if White were to be convicted as an adult, would Boys Town be a sentencing option under the state's dual jurisdiction program for juveniles certified as adults. Hillyer acknowledged that Boys Town would take any defendant ordered there by a court, adult or juvenile.

Egan argued in the afternoon that White had received ineffective assistance of counsel and been denied due process at the hearing in December. His attorney at the time, Chuck Lonardo, failed to call witnesses, like Hillyer or anyone from DYS, to show the judge at the hearing the full range of options available through the juvenile court system and to dispute the local juvenile officer's contention that juvenile placements with the state often wind up back in the community in less than a year, Egan argued.

Circuit Judge William Crawford certified White to stand trial as an adult in December primarily out of concern with the threat his alleged actions posed to the community.

"Nothing you heard today suggests that Judge Crawford's ruling was improper or void on its face," Nicholas told the judge.

He said the right to due process under the law does not guarantee a defendant that particular evidence will be presented but simply affords the opportunity to offer evidence, Nicholas said. He said it also is not proper for the defense to be raising constitutional arguments at this stage in a criminal prosecution.

"He does not have post-conviction relief until there has been a conviction," Nicholas said of the defendant.

Hearing held for Memorial Middle School shooter

A motion to have Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White, 14, returned to juvenile court was heard today during a hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court:

The motion seeks a remand of the case to juvenile court. White was certified to stand trial as an adult on felony charges at a hearing in December. The boy’s attorneys claim the hearing was not properly conducted and called the president of the Boys and Girls Town of Missouri to testify Friday morning regarding a placement option for the court.

The Jasper County prosecutor’s office objected to the testimony and remains opposed to any remand of the case not based on legal defect of the certification hearing. Circuit Judge David Mouton indicated he will resume listening to arguments this afternoon.

According to Jasper County Circuit Court records, the hearing concluded this afternoon with the defense asking to have until July 6 to provide more documentation to the court to back its request to have White returned to juvenile court.

Details from this afternoon's session will be posted on Room 210 News when they are available.

Police officers may be placed at middle schools, high school

The Joplin City Council and Joplin R-8 School District are discussing having police officers assigned to each of the three middle schools and to the high school, according to an article posted today on the Joplin Globe website:

Superintendent Jim Simpson said the district has had two city police officers devoted to it for the duration of his six-year tenure, but the shooting at Memorial Middle School in October highlighted the need for an increased police presence.

"This came about post-Memorial shooting, when it was obvious that the school could benefit with additional SROs," Simpson said, "especially in the environment that we find ourselves in now in America, in which schools have become areas where shootings occur."

Should the ordinance be approved, one officer will be stationed at each of the three middle schools and the high school, Simpson said, and they will respond to incidents at elementary schools as needed.

South talent show airing on Jet 14

I don't have exact times but the South Middle School Talent Show and Awards Assembly from May 24 began airing this week and should continue to air the reminder of the summer.

Family, friends say goodbye to Weston Powell

Funeral services were held Thursday for former South Middle School student Weston Powell who drowned June 3. The following is taken from the Joplin Globe internet site:

By Melissa Dunson

A sea of T-shirts bearing his face, his name and a collection of his sayings flowed Thursday afternoon into College Heights Christian Church in celebration of a teenager's life.

Hundreds from across the Joplin area showed up to honor the memory of Weston Powell, a 15-year-old Joplin boy who drowned June 3.

The people represented all walks of life. The hair of some was white with age; others sported hair dyed metallic red. They came with lip rings and toddlers, tattoos and Bibles, bandannas and roses. They came in flip-flops and suit jackets. There were skateboarders, high-school students, grandparents and pastors.

They were brought together by a young man who had touched them all.

"That's why you’re all here," said College Heights Christian Church minister Jay St. Clair. "Because for a season you enjoyed a relationship with a 15-year-old boy that was really cool."

Glenn Powell, Weston's father, always said his son was special. He said he was never more sure of that than during the funeral Thursday, when members of his blood family sat next to his skateboard family from The Bridge, a Joplin teen center where he spent most of his free time for the past three years.

"I never knew how many people he drew to himself," Glenn Powell said. "He didn't waste any time, except when he was sleeping. But the rest of the time, he just kept trying to figure out how to make this place brighter.

"Kids are always different at home, but now that I hear all these stories (about Weston), I think that he's been listening to me all along. I've never been so proud of my son in all my life."

Lindsay Matush, a staff member at The Bridge and one of Weston's friends, said he was a friend to all types of people, regardless of their age, race, gender or style, and that his funeral and memorial service showed it. People who normally wouldn't find themselves in a church sat through the funeral service, and people who have never been to a skate park stood on the ramps that were so familiar to Weston during a memorial service later at The Bridge.

Cassady Utley, a friend of Weston's and a native of Webb City, said everyone who met Weston loved him, and he returned the favor. Another friend, Joey Verhaar, of Joplin, said Weston always brought a smile on his face and a good time for everyone.

"That's my homeboy; I'll miss him a lot," Verhaar said of Weston.

During both services, friends and family members shared stories that painted a clear picture of the teen. Weston had a passion for shoes, and he died with 21 pairs in his closet. He loved skateboarding and intended to turn pro after he graduated. Weston won first place in a skateboarding contest at The Bridge in 2005 as a beginner, first place at the Summer Contest Series of 2006 in the intermediate category, and first place at the JoMo Showdown only a month ago as an advanced rider.

He was always asking his parents, Glenn and Michelle, for money because he gave away much of what he owned. From clothes to skateboards, Weston gave to everyone he loved, whether it was a hug and a smile for someone who was down in the dumps, or spending hours cleaning a house for a friend who had wrist surgery.

"If he could have, he'd have given away the shirt off of his back," said Kendra Wilson, one of Weston's neighbors and friends. "There was just something about him. He had this light in his eyes."

As the day memorializing Weston drew to a close, Jeremiah Anderson, manager of the Autumn Ramp Park at The Bridge, gave an altar call to the hundreds attending the celebration-of-life service. Scores of youths responded.

"He had a mission in his short 15 years, and he accomplished it as shown by all of you sitting out there," St. Clair said to the funeral attendees. "He did not die in our timing, but his life will not be wasted."

Globe to offer coverage of Weston Powell services

The Joplin Globe will have coverage in its Friday edition of today's services for former South Middle School student Weston Powell.
When the information is put on the Globe's internet site, a link will be provided from Room 210 News.

Jarrett Cook is new SMS assistant principal

Mr. Jarrett Cook, a teacher in the Seneca R-7 School District, has been named assistant principal at South Middle School.
Mr. Cook was chosen out of six finalists who were interviewed June 7 at the district administration building.
While at Seneca, Mr. Cook has taught fifth grade, sixth grade science, and high school social studies. During the 2006-2007 school year, in addition to teaching social studies, he was an assistant football coach and was head coach for boys and girls track.
He is a graduate of Seneca High School, received his bachelor's degree at Missouri Southern State University, and completed his masters at William Woods.

Mr. Cook is married and has three small children.

According to Mr. Ron Mitchell, principal, as soon as Mr. Cook has finished his summer duties in Seneca he will be at South getting his office situated and ready to meet faculty and staff.

Mr. Cook replaces Mr. Gregg Klinginsmith, who left South after one year to take an administrative position in the Wentzville School District.

Services set for Weston Powell

Funeral services have been scheduled for Weston Powell, 15, a former South Middle School student who drowned June 3. The information from Parker Mortuary is featured below:

Weston Powell, age 15, of Joplin, passed away from an apparent drowning accident on Sunday, June 3, 2007 near Riverton, KS.

Weston was born August 26, 1991, in Mesa, AZ, son of Glenn Powell and Michelle Michael Powell. The family moved to Joplin in 1995. Weston was a student at Joplin High School having just completed 9th grade. He was an avid skateboarder who strived for improvement of his skills over the past few years. He enjoyed skating at The Bridge, where he was a member of the “The Bridge Family,” and had won several competitions. He was loved by all the staff members at The Bridge, who described Weston “He always had a smile on his face, and was very helpful to others”. Weston was always willing to help other skaters learn the sport, and advance their skill level. He won first place at The Bridge Contest in 2005, first place at the Summer Contest Series of 2006, and most recently won first place at the JoMo Showdown in May of 2007 in the Advanced Division. Weston attended Carterville Christian Church.

Survivors include his parents, Glenn and Michelle Powell of Joplin; sister, Stephanie Powell of the home; grandparents, Sharon Sager of Kansas City, Kansas, Johnny and Lynnette Powell of Naco, AZ; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorial Services will be Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. at College Heights Christian Church with Jay St. Clair, Minister, officiating.

There will be a celebration of Weston’s life following the service at The Bridge beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Bridge.

Memorial videos set up for Weston Powell

Memorials for Weston Powell have been set up at the following sites:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2034293901

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPWtLOnD3g

JHS Dance team clinic June 11-15

The Joplin High School Varsity Dance Team will hold a dance clinic 9 a.m. to 12 noon Monday, June 11, through Friday, June 15, at Martin Luther School, 2616 Connecticut Avenue for girls entering grades K-8.
The cost is $50.
Snacks are provided.
Pick up information and registration forms at Martin Luther School
or call 624-1403.

Youth ministers, counselors to be available at The Bridge

Those who frequent The Bridge, Joplin's meeting place for teens, are grieving the loss of former South Middle School student Weston Powell, whose body was discovered today in Spring River.
Bridge officials said today on their website that ministers and counselors will be available to help anyone who is having a hard time dealing with Weston's death. The following message is posted on the site:

"We are grieving the loss of Weston Powell - a member of our Bridge family. The Bridge will be open regular hours: 11am - 9pm all week and we will be available to pray, talk, cry, laugh, and remember with any of you who want to join us. There will be a special space for you to gather your thoughts, look at pictures, remember Weston, and talk if you need to. There will be youth ministers and counselors on site. We would love for you to come and be with us."

Anyone wishing to leave comments or share memories of Weston can also leave them at the end of this post.

Body of former South student found

The body of Weston Powell, 15, who had been missing since Sunday, was found today in the Spring River. The following was posted earlier today on the Joplin Globe website:

By Roger McKinney

RIVERTON, Kan. — Searchers today found the body of 15-year-old Weston Powell, of Joplin, Mo., in Spring River nearly four days after he jumped into the river from Boston Mills Bridge.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Norman told reporters the body was found around 1:30 p.m. today on the water near the west bank of the river, about 350 to 400 yards from the bridge. He said searchers had been concentrating on that area since Sunday, while also continuing to look elsewhere.

Powell was among five males, three adults and two juveniles, who were jumping from the bridge into the swiftly-moving and rain-swollen river around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Cherokee County Undersheriff Kent Soucy said the other four had successfully jumped from the bridge and swam to shore, but Powell was seized by the current. Soucy said his friends, all from Joplin, saw Powell surface once but never saw him after that.

The bridge on Lostine Road is about four miles north of the highway bridge in Riverton

"The river had just started to become manageable within the last 18 to 24 hours," Norman said of the conditions for searchers.

Norman said the area where the body was found had been focused on by cadaver-sniffing dogs.

"All indications were we were looking in the right area," Norman said.

Norman said he was glad that Powell’s body was found when it was, because he was preparing to suspend the search because of thunderstorms in the forecast for Thursday night.

"We were a little concerned today about the weather that was going to be approaching us," Norman said. "We had several boats in the water. We were actually going to pull our boats off at about five, but again, thankfully, we found what we were looking for."

Norman said he told Powell’s mother and father that his body had been found.

"I visited with mom and dad and I can tell you that they are relieved because it brings closure to them," Norman said.

He said the family members had been through an emotional four days.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family," Norman said.

(Family and friends of Weston Powell are shown during a prayer circle for him held today shortly after word was received that his body had been recovered. Joplin Globe photo by Roger McKinney)

Assistant principal candidates interviewed

Six candidates for the South Middle School assistant principal position were interviewed today at the District Administration Building.
The successful candidate will replace Gregg Klinginsmith, who left for an administrative position in the Wentzville School District after one year at South.

Those interviewing the six finalists were: assistant superintendents, Dr. Stephen Doerr, assistant superintendent, Mr. Doug Domer, and Ms. Charlotte Miller, South Middle School Principal Mr. Ron Mitchell, and SMS teachers Mr. Rocky Biggers and Mr. Randy Turner.

The new assistant principal is expected to be named sometime next week.

Search continues for former South student

The search continues for former South Middle School student Weston Powell, who disappeared Sunday after jumping off a bridge near Riverton, Kan.

According to the Joplin Globe:

Cherokee County Undersheriff Kent Soucy said at 5:30 p.m. Monday that the search might continue throughout the night. He said the dogs probably would continue working until sunset.

Powell was carried away by the swift current around 6:30 p.m. Sunday after leaping into the rain-swollen river from the Boston Mill Bridge, Soucy said. The bridge is on Lostine Road, north of Riverton.

Soucy said Powell was among five males from Joplin who were jumping off the bridge. Two were juveniles, and the others were adults. Four members of the group had previously jumped in and made it back to shore safely.

Soucy said Powell's friends saw him surface once, but then they lost sight of him. The search began Sunday night, with about 30 people participating. About eight boats were in the water on Monday.

Lindsay Matush, a staff member at The Bridge in Joplin and a friend of Powell's, said Monday: "Weston is a phenomenal guy. He is kind and compassionate, and fun and funny."

She said Powell, a student at Joplin High School, recently took first place in a skateboard competition at The Bridge.

"He is a wonderful, talented, well-rounded person, and he has absolutely blessed anyone who got to know him," Matush said.

Sports editor Leach writes last story

By KELLEY LEACH
Room 210 Sports Editor

Well here I am writing my last sports report as an eighth grader leaving South. I would like to say thanks to all my teachers I will take what u have taught me and use it to my best.
As one of the eighth graders who played in the basketball game, I can say we put up a good fight. The teachers did an awesome job besides Mr.Pliler not being able to stay on his feet. And for most of the teachers being eight inches taller than us. We had fun even if we did lose. We did better than last year's eighth graders, which in some ways surprised us. The final score was 72 to 47. I would personally like say good job to the teachers. But I would also like to say good job to my team mates we took our lose well and we played hard.
It has been a fun writing for the South Spotlight and a special thanks to Mr. Turner who put me as something I love " Sports Editor."Good luck to all the new eighth graders and have a great year.

Some photos from yearbook signing day

The next-to-last day of the 2006-2007 school year was the traditional yearbook signing with some time spent during each of the first five hours passing around the yearbooks.
The annual faculty-eighth grade basketball game was played during sixth and seventh hours. (Yearbooks were handed out the previous day during sixth hour and signing took place sixth and seventh hours.)
Featured are a few photos from Mr. Randy Turner's eighth grade communication arts classes.

Moss takes position at Kelsey Norman

Mrs. Gala Moss, sixth grade block teacher at South Middle School for the past two years, is leaving, but will remain in the Joplin R-8 School District.
Mrs. Moss told fellow South faculty members in an e-mail today she will teach fifth grade at Kelsey Norman Elementary School during the 2007-2008 school year.

Awards, honors for South listed for 2006-2007 school year

The 2006-2007 school year was another successful one at South Middle School. Students received honors throughout the year, including the ones listed below:

SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL HONORS
2006/2007

STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
Winners:
6th Grade: Olivia Hampton
Drew Welch
7th Grade: Mariah Sanders
Logan Perry
8th Grade: Savanah Sweeton
Nathan Morris
Nominees:
6th Grade: Thea Voutiritsas, Elaina Warren, Abby Bass, Alexis Woods, Victoria Baker, Storm Whittington, Karrissa Dowell Clayton Brown, Austin Finn, Ethan Warstler, Ben Story, Hunter Mills, kevin Justus, Dakota Smith
7th Grade: Molly Baker, Tozia Burris, Shalea Purdy, Taylor Camden, Sarah Kessler, Raycie Thompson
Marcus Clark, Matt Cruzan, Gareth Evans, DeSean Triplett, Wade Mathis
8th Grade: Victoria Smith, Mollie Sanders, Breanna Baker, Blanca Castaneda, Samantha Weaver, Faith Mowry, Kelsey Pace. Grant Evans, Dylan Prauser, Dustin Hill, James Hill



MOST IMPROVED STUDENTS:
6th Grade – Chris Harpole
7th Grade – Beau Scroggins
8th Grade – Carl Long
Breanna Martin
Seth Hurtt

AREA CEREBRAL PALSY HEARTS DONATION: $1,181.25.

WESTERN MISSOURI AMERICAN WATER POSTER CONTEST
Winners:
Grand Prize Winner: Mollie Sanders
6th Grade Winner: Thomas Richins
6th Grade Runner Up: Bethani Patterson
7th GradeWinner: Mariah Sanders
7th Grade Runner-up: Nathan Stripling
8th Grade Winner: Tiffany Douglas
8th Grade Runner-up: Cindy Pham


JOPLIN GLOBE SPELLING BEE SCHOOL
Winner: Elaina Warren

PROJECT CITIZEN SHOWCASE – JEFFERSON CITY, MO
Superior Rating on both projects.
Subjects:
“Teen Courts”
“Joplin Recycling Program”
Participants:
Dalton Anderson, Breanna Baker, Jacob Bennett, Austin Bolt, Dakota Gilmore, Christy Hernandez, Dusty Hill, Seth Hurtt, Will Kessler, Jessica Knight, Kelley Leach, Breanna Martin, Faith Mowry, Matt McCoy, Lainie Nicolas, DeAngelo Nunnally, Dylan Prauser, Mollie Sanders, Cassie Schulze, Alicia Shofner, Grant Stewart,Daniel Story, Tyler Walker, Steven Williams, Kendra Wilson, Katie Wood, Craig Yeoman and Ken Zhang.

ELKS LODGE ESSAY CONTEST
Winners:
7th & 8th Grade Division:
Taylor Tressler – 1st Place
Breanna Martin – 3rd Place

ACCELERATED READER AWARDS
Top A.R. Point Winners:
6th Grade – Calvin Alumbaugh – 638.9 points
7th Grade – Samantha Rice – 269.2 points
8th Grade – Hunter Bailey – 500.8 points
6th Grade:
300 + Points: Laila Douglas, Alex Asher, Damon Monasco
200 + Points: Olivia Hampton, Danielle Doerr, Aaron Daum,
Anna Johnson
100 + Points: Thomas Richins, Tori Thompson, Emily Yarbrough, Erin Johnson, Gabe Sachetta, Abby Bass, Austin Fenn, Curt Nollner, Alex Hill, Felisha Derrick, Caroline Dutton, Blake Price, Isaiah Hicks, Elaina Warren, Kelsey Gould, Thea Voutiritsas, Mollie Baker, Dakota Smith, Hunter Mills
7th Grade:
200 + Points: Mary Jean Miller, Raycie Thompson
100 + Points: Merisha Alderman, Jonathan Ballard, Lindsey Beall, Emily Brown , Taylor Camden, Tanner Crawford, Matthew Cruzan, Zachary Dorris, Gareth Evans, Brittany Frisbie, Brandon Holman, Andrew Ideker, Alex Kangethe, Alex Karns, Amanda Kennedy, Sarah Kessler, Tera Knight, Luke Lenhart, Wade Mathis, Sarah Matthews, Ian Mitchell, Travis Morris, Holly O’Dell, Shalea Purdy, Mariah Sanders, Dalton Smith, Shawn Spicer, Nathan Stripling, Isaiah Stout, Greggory VanLoon, and Casee Wheeler
8th Grade:
200 + Points: Ysabeau Carroll, Mylissa Asher and
Catherine Stewart
100 + Points: Ethan Carder, Nikki Carter, Lane Hampton, Dusty Hill, Kylie Hurrell, Alex Johnson, Dylan King, Matt Lemieux, Rachel Richins, Mollie Sanders, and Daniel Story


POETRY AND WRITING CONTEST WINNERS:
Teacher’s Selection: Anthology of Eighth Grade Poetry
Becky Cooper
Jaclyn Wright
Short Story Contest Winners:
1. Rachel Richins
2. Tim Scroggins
3. Hannah Doerge
4. Brian Geier
5. Dylan Prauser
6. Christy Hernandez
7. Christen Cool
8. Matt Lemieux
9. Laila Douglas
10. Victoria Nolan
Essay Contest Winners:
1. Victoria Smith
2. Taylor Tressler
3. Faith Mowry
4. Demi White
5. Breanna Martin
6. Jordan Chambers
7. Raycee Thompson
8. Dylan Prauser
9. Colten Hawkins
10. Rachelle Hughbank

TOP JOURNALISM CLUB MEMBERS:
Dylan Prauser and Savanah Sweeton

TOP 8TH GRADE C.A. STUDENTS:
Dylan Prauser and Ashlee Stephens

TOP 8TH GRADE WRITERS:
Faith Mowry and Victoria Smith

PERFECT ATTENDANCE:
6th: Haley Bowers, Caleb Garton, Alex Hill, Taylor Parker, Charrles Smith and Shane Striegel
7th: Tolby Clemons, Sarah Kessler, Jacob Lyons, Bayley Strella and DeSean Triplett
8th: Shanna Striegel

4.0 GPA FOR ALL 12 QUARTERS:
Ken Zhang (2004 – 2007)

4.0 GPA FOR 6 SEMESTERS:
Mollie Sanders
Taylor Mulik

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR:
7th: Chloe Potts
Jeffery Terry
8th: Becky Cooper
Dusty Hill

PEER TUTORS:
Andrew Ideker, Mary Jean Miller, Victoria Smith, Kylie Hurrell, Savanah Sweeton, Jackie Bogarin, Amanda Kennedy, Blake Lamb, Hannah Doerge, Holly O’Dell, Cindy Pham, Rachael Foster, Katie Wood, Gina Casada, Wade Mathis, Shawn Spicer, Sarah Kessler, Sydney Long, Bayley Strella, Steven Denmark, James Hill, Taylor Mulik, Chloe Potts, Taylor Camden, Breanne Diles, Mariah Sanders, Jordan Chambers, Thea Voutiritsas, Brittney Hudson, Alex Karns, and Tamera Wirick

SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS:
6th Grade:
Gold: Sherry Marlett
Silver: Danielle Doerr
Tanner Heritage
Bronze: Emily Goucher
7th Grade:
Gold: Nicole Yeoman
Brandon Hollman
Silver: Chloe Potts
Sarah Kessler
Bronze: Mariah Sanders
Levina Hayzlett
8th Grade:
Gold: Corey Hounschell
Craig Yeoman
Silver: Alexis Hawk
Ken Zhang
Bronze: Taylor Mulik
Grant Evans

MISSOURI SOUTHERN REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR:
2nd Place: Calvin Alumbaugh – Physics and Astronomy
3rd Place: Sarah Kessler – Chemistry and Biochemistry

6th GRADE GIFTED SCIENCE FAIR:
1st Place: Alex Hill – Earth and Environmental Sciences
Calvin Alumbaugh – Physics and Astronomy
Olivia Hampton – Plant Sciences

SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY MATH CONTEST:
6th Grade:
9th Place (tie) – CONCEPTS – Calvin Alumbaugh
Honorable Mention (tie) - INDIVIDUAL Calvin Alumbaugh
7th Grade:
6th Place (tie) – TARGET – Sarah Kessler
7th Place (tie) – INDIVIDUAL – Sarah Kessler

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY AT MSSU:
Junior Individual Exhibit – Sarah Kessler, “Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross”

Junior Individual Documentary
1st Place – Corey Hounschell, “The Battle of the Bulge”

Junior Group Documentary
3rd Place – Wade Mathis & Ian Mense (NMS), Pickett’s Charge”

LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD:
(Students donated more than 100 service hours and more than $1,000 to the Joplin community. Those organizations that were supported included the Ronald McDonald House of the Four States, Joplin R-8 School Bond Issue, and the Carol Miller Basketball Benefit Fundraiser).
7th Grade: Molly Baker, Shane Ellis, Gareth Evans, Brittany Frisbie, Jordan Hamilton, Brandon Holman, Lauren Layne, Richie Lyons, Chloe Potts, Shalea Purdy, Shawn Spicer and Bayley Strella
8th Grade: Breanna Baker, Christen Cool, Becky Cooper, Leah Forkner, Christy Hernandez, Kane McCaslin, Amanda Needham, Cindy Pham, Dylan Prauser, Cassey Schulze, Tim Scroggins and Victoria Smith

CHUCKY AWARDS:
Dalton Link, Carl Long, Christian Underwood and Andrew Burkhart

ARTWORK DISPLAYED IN DESE OFFICES IN JEFFERSON CITY:
Kelsey Gould


DISTRICT JR. HIGH HONOR BAND:
Aaron Hodges and Corey Hounschell


JOPLIN MUSIC FESTIVAL – BAND:
1 rating: Aaron Hodges – Trombone Solo
Geoff Aiken – Trombone Solo
Sarah Kessler – Trumpet Solo
Grant Evans – Snare Drum Solo
Chyenne Howard and Austin Bolt – Alto Sax Duet
Steven Denmark and Tiffany Douglas – Mixed Woodwind
Duet
Tyler Beal and Nathan Morris – Trumpet Duet
Amanda Needham and Nathan Morris – Trumpet Duet

NEO CHOIR PERFORMANCE AWARDS:
3 ensembles with I rating
3 ensembles with II rating

Solos:
Haley Bowers – I rating
Krystal Schulze – II rating
Lexi Brown – I rating
Hannah Cady – I rating
Storm Whittington – I rating
Felisha Derrick – II rating
Jordan Chambers – I rating
Mariah Sanders – I rating
Taylor Camden – I rating
Sarah Matthews – I rating
Tori Mitchell – I rating
Adam Schelling – I rating
Nikki Carter – I rating

Concert Choir – I rating

MY TEACHER ROCKS – Month of December 2006
Barb Rooker – 6th, 7th, 8th Grade Math Teacher
Leah Forkner – Student writing nomination

Interview sessions set for South assistant principal posts

A half dozen candidates for the vacant South Middle School assistant principal position will be interviewed Thursday, June 7, at the R-8 Administration Building.

The interviews will be conducted by a team consisting of administrators, plus SMS faculty members.
The new assistant principal replaces Gregg Klinginsmith, who is leaving after one year to take an administrative position in the Wentzville School District.

Burkett chosen for Missouri Fine Arts Academy

Daniel Burkett, who will be a senior at Joplin High School this fall, is one of 186 juniors and seniors selected to attend the 2007 Missouri Fine Arts Academy scheduled for June 10-30 on the campus of Missouri State University, Springfield.

According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website:

This is the twelfth year for the state-supported Fine Arts Academy which provides a unique and challenging learning environment for talented visual and performing artists -- singers, dancers, painters, musicians and sculptors – from Missouri high schools.

During the three-week residential program, students take part in interdisciplinary coursework, where various aspects of the arts are explored, experienced and integrated. Students devote part of each day to classes in their specific area of artistic expertise. Each afternoon includes other discipline-specific classes, along with private and ensemble lessons.

Evenings are packed with cultural, educational and social functions designed to help broaden each student’s experiences as an artist, a learner and a citizen. The academy’s co-curricular activities include gallery visits, workshops with guest artists and alumni, and community service activities that focus on the arts.

Each public and private high school in Missouri is eligible to nominate at least one student to attend the Fine Arts Academy. The participants are chosen through a competitive selection process that requires students to submit written applications and portfolios or performance